The comparison of an abridged and unabridged dictionary!

Though the two forms of dictionaries have some similarities that are common to them, there are some striking differences between the two.
First and foremost, unabridged dictionary contained more detailed explanation of words. These words are explained serially according to the forms and usages in the speech act. The word in their varied forms and usage are clearly explained, eg, the word 'plan' as contained in the Oxford advanced learner's dictionary, has two meanings in the first place.
1. Outline drawing (of or for a building), showing the relative sizes, positions etc, of the parts.
2. Diagram (of parts of a machine).
3. Diagram showing how a garden, park, town or the areas of a land has been laid out.
4. Arrangement for doing or using something considered in advance.
However, in the case of abridged dictionaries, the words are explained in a concised way. It does not depict various meanings, which is subject to, as in the case of unabridged form, but rather goes on to explain the specific meaning of words, eg the word 'plan' simply means diagram showing the relative position of the parts of a building, or a method thought out in advance.
Secondly, the unabridged dictionary does not elaborately give the meaning of words, but also give their idiomatic expressions. But in the abridged dictionary, it always give a concised meaning of words.
Thirdly, the unabridged dictionary therein contains many words, more than the abridged. The fact that a dictionary has been abridged, is for portability. And that is the reason why some people who have an abridged dictionary, are often disappointed or realizing that they could not find some words in the dictionary, eg the abridged dictionary, does not contain the word 'abaft', which means a stem half of a ship. But in the unabridged dictionary, the word is clearly spelt out, and as well defined. Another striking difference is that the unabridged dictionary, contains more phrasal verbs, and their respective explanations, eg:
Break: which means, go or come into two or more separate parts, as a result of force, a blow or strains.
Break into: forcing one's way into a building, etc.
Break out: outbreak (of fire, disease, war, rioting, etc.
Break through: make a way through an enclosure, obstacles, etc.
However, there are certain things which both abridged, and unabridged dictionaries has in common. First and foremost, the organisation of the two is the same, since both systematically ranges from the letter A - Z. Also, the emphasis on whether a word is used as a common, or verbs is indicated in the two dictionaries.

An article edited, formatted and published by 'Ucheonye Nzubechi.